OCSL Spring 2024
2024 — CA/US
Debate Paradigm List
All Paradigms: Show HideHello,
My name is Anika (Ah - Ni - Kah) and my pronouns are She/Her/Hers. I coach for Northwood Lincoln Douglas and I've been debating for around 3 years. I am comfortable with all arguments, and I'm good with spreading as long as you share your case. I will say clear if I cannot understand you, and I expect you to time your own speeches.
My email is anika.akshantala@gmail.com
Have fun and good luck!
my email address is:
Talmstedt@fjuhsd.org
Please include me on email evidence chains and case sharing.
For WSD, I will focus more on the Style aspect. WSD, I feel, is not a regular debate round, but a way to promote and share your ideas. If a team starts talking about why they won and not showing me, and the other team is showing me, I'll lean towards the other. If you're making me laugh, you are doing something right. I've judged tons of speech, PF, LD, and Policy, so I can handle anything ya got.
I am a head coach of a Speech and Debate Team. When it comes to PF & LD, I am lay judge but can understand tech-type jargon. I do not flow, but take shorthand notes. If you give me a verbal outline, I can track it.
These are do’s and Don’t for me judging your round:
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Please do not use ‘K’’s to win your round, or run anything progressive, as you probably won’t win.
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I appreciate off time road maps. Sign Posting is also very helpful for me to track your arguments
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I will defer to the tournament organizers as to disclosure at the end of the round. If there are no instructions, I will disclose at the end of the round
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A disrespectful team will most often lose the round
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Trigger warnings are appreciated, but must be followed if asked to
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I default to most lives affected/saved if no other framework is presented
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Please do not spread, I asked nicely.
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Make link chains as clear as possible, with clear warranting, especially when they are lengthy
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Evidence is important. Accurate evidence is even better. Valuable evidence is best. This means if your opponent is using faulty or poor evidence call them out on it. Thus, ask for evidence.
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As a lay judge, crossfire allows me to see the caliber of each team. Respectful, meaningful, and purposeful crossfire will help me decide the victor of the round.
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Post round questions are helpful for my growth as a judge, so please ask for reasoning. However, your obligation is to beat your opponent, not argue with the judge, so clarifying questions will be entertained, but attempts to change my mind will not.
Email chain: derekqchang@gmail.com
Experience: he/him, 3 years PF and 3 years of WS, 3 year judging
TLDR:
I vote off of impact calc, tech > truth, spreading is discouraged, please signpost and make contentions clear or else I'm not going to consider it in my flow, build off each other
BE RESPECTFUL - I will vote against you and crater your speaks if you are excessively disrespectful
Long Version:
Weighing:
- plz weigh in FF and Summary, impact calc must include considerations for magnitude, timeframe, probability, weighing of 2 worlds, etc
- impact is really important - even if your opp drops all their args but u have no impact then they still can win (dependent on burden)
- optional but I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend mentioning past rebuttals and the contention when giving rebuttals so I can extend them through the entire flow and give opponents the opportunity to respond, having every opportunity for clash is what makes a productive debate
Rebuttals
- tech > truth, so use cards/evidence (not relevant to impromptu)
- clearly explain your logic, link, what you are attacking, etc.
Summary/Reply
- anything you bring up in 4th speech must have been brought up in 3rd speech or else it won't be weighed and will be dropped from flow
- no new arguments and no new evidence in FF, i will dock your speaks
Cross/POIS
- I don't flow cross or POIs so anything important in cross or POIs that you want on the flow must be reiterated in later speeches
Framework:
- if its something other than CBA, yes bring it up
also plz warrant and extend warrant
Shoutout: Sunny Sun for letting me borrow dis
Hi! I am a lay judge.
I dislike spreading and value interacting with your opponent's arguments well.
I am the head coach of Speech and Debate (primarily focus on Lincoln-Douglas) at Middle College High School in California, 2023-2024
As a judge I will be focusing on the arguments presented in the debate, meaning: the contents of what is said, and not just how it is stated, will make all the difference. Striking the balance between speaking persuasively, but also having sound logic behind your claims will set you apart from your opponent. I will take a step back and evaluate as a third party: the quality of the argumentation in the debate. The archetypal argument must consist of a claim (what you are trying to advance) and a warrant for that claim (why is it true). I don't need your case. Avoid including me in the chain. Strong evidence should be clearly stated, and not outdated.
Avoid spreading. If I can’t understand you, and you fail to articulate yourself clearly, I can’t judge in favor of your case. Speak clearly and signpost.
I will look to the structure of your cases and be on the lookout for framework (essential in LD). Topicality Frame for 1AC and 1NC: Define any key terms in the resolution that may come up later in the debate or will be crucial to your contentions. Give your Value and its definition. Give your Value Criterion and its definition. Address Significance and Inherency, harms and impacts along with solvency (aff)/clash(neg). Neg: Without clash, there isn’t any debate. Debaters must clash directly and specifically to their opponents’ arguments. CLASH is a central, deciding factor of a debate. If a debater fails to clash with major points, you will lose the debate.
1 AR- I will be looking that you provided answers to the Neg Clash. Do NOT extend your case or read more harms and impact evidence for your contentions. 1NR- Do NOT extend your case or read more harms and impact evidence for your contentions and NO COUNTER-PLANS. I will not consider new evidence presented in 2NR so please do not give new cards or provide new evidence
Avoid:
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Getting confrontational. It’s a debate–it should not get personal. Face the judge, not your opponent.
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Getting too loud. Louder does not mean you are more convincing or does not signal you are right.
Speaker points: out of 30 (however the scale starts at 26, unless the student was intentionally rude, made offensive or hateful comments-this will result in a 25). I may assign the winning debater the highest number of speaker points (granted there weren’t major issues and they weren't subpar), unless I believe it is a low-point win.
Results will be on Tabroom. Thank you.
A little about me:
Currently coaching: Sage Hill School 2021-Present
Past Coaching: Diamond Ranch HS 2015-2020
I also tab more tournaments, but I keep up with my team so I can follow many of the trends in all events.
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I prefer all of my speakers to make sure that any contentions, plans or the like are clear and always link back to the topic at hand. You're free to run theory or K at your peril. I've heard great rounds on Afro-pessimism and bad rounds on it. I've loved a round full of theory and hated rounds full of theory. All depends on how it's done, and what the point of it.
I am a social studies teacher, so I can't unknow the rules of American government or economics. Don't attempt to stay something that is factually inaccurate that you would know in your classes.
Be respectful of all parties in the room - your opponent(s), your partner (if applicable) and the judge. Hurtful language is in not something I tolerate. Pronouns in your names are an added plus.
Speaking clearly, even if fast, is fine, but spreading can be difficult to understand, especially through two computers. I will say "Clear" if I need to. In an online format, please slow down for the first minute if possible. I haven't had to listen to spreading with online debate.
For LD, I don't mind counterplans and theory discussions as long as they are germane to the topic and as long as they don't result in debating the rules of debate rather than the topic itself. In the last year most of my LD rounds have not been at TOC bid tournaments, but that doesn't mean I can't follow most arguments, but be patient as I adjust.
Truth > tech.
*It's work to make me vote on extinction or nuclear war as a terminal impact in any debate. That link chain needs to be solid if you're doing to expect me to believe it.*
In PF, make sure that you explain your terminal impacts and tell me why I should weight your impacts vs your opponents' impacts.
WSD - I have been around enough tournaments to know what I should hear and I will notice if you're not doing it well. Thinking global always. Models should always be well explained and match the focus on the round. Fiat is a tricky thing in the event now but use it as you see fit.
I've competed in PF for 4 years, debate for 6 years, so here are a few things I look out for:
- Signpost Signpost Signpost (I judge based on my flow, but if you mess up my flow, it will be harder for me to vote for you).
- Frontline! I expect the second rebuttal to frontline.
- Please run a Trigger Warning for sensitive topics! The best way to run a trigger warning is by creating an anonymous google form with a general summary of your case. If anyone claims that they are uncomfortable with the topic, you should be switching it out with a more neutral argument.
- Engage with your opponents! I understand you have a block file with top-level responses, but make sure you're actually engaging with the nuances of your opponents arguments.
- Weigh and metaweigh!!
- Summary needs to collapse, extend, frontline, and weigh.
- No new arguments after first summary, unless it's weighing.
- Please be civil and kind - debate is a fun activity.
- Add me to any email chains:neilgodse@gmail.com
- tech > truth unless you say something actually out of pocket. There's a difference between being assertive and being aggressive. I'll try my best to give line-by-line rfd's but that can only happen if you signpost, give me the order, extend, etc. Again, please weigh
- NO PARAPHRASING THEORY, DISCLOSURE THEORY, KRITIKS, COUNTERPLANS, OR ANYTHING FUNKY <-- PF is supposed to be accessible to everyone.
- Spreading... if you MUST, then go for it. But that may impact your speaks if done badly, as well as my ability to flow.
- Having a framework is great! - I will default to utilitarianism unless provided with another one; Framework debates are good, but should not result in a wash
If I end up judging another event other than PF, I’ll be a flay judge, but lmk if you have any questions!
This is only my second year coaching, so please consider me a lay judge with very little debate experience. It's best for you to not assume I have knowledge of the topic and to give as much background as possible. It's important for you to connect your arguments clearly, refute when necessary, and don't speak too rapidly or I may miss some of your points. I will take notes, but would appreciate you emphasizing what you want me to hear when it comes to your framework. I am more swayed by morality and mitigating lives lost than other "fancy" debate tricks. Simple language explaining why you should win could do more to get me on your side.
I ask that you remain respectful to your opponent and to me when I make my decision. Good luck!
Email: egonzalez@fjuhsd.org
*i am not versed in any of the topic literature*
hi :) my name is eunice (she/her) and i'm a sophomore in college, i debated PF for a year and LD for 4 years for cypress high school and honor academy!
please start and add me to the email chain -> eunicekim@college.harvard.edu
i'm a flow judge and i competed in southern california (jack howe, claremont, OCSL, la costa, NSDA nats, etc.)
i haven't debated or watched a debate in 2 years, i was a trad debater in hs, i'm not really good with progressive arguments like theory, kritiks, etc. with that being said, that doesn't mean don't run these args just THOROUGHLY explain them
general:
- signpost; PLEASE SIGNPOST, off-time roadmaps are always appreciated.
- impact calculus; if there are clashing fws you must argue which fw i should be judging with and impact out your args.
- speed; don't spread, speaking fast but clearly is fine.
- quality over quantity: collapse your args, dont just throw crap on the wall to see what sticks.
- please time yourselves
if you have any questions, feel free to email me!
Hello,
I am a parent judge with little experience. However, I have sat in multiple Congress sessions so I'm familiar with the flow of the round.
Judging criteria:
- Be professional, NO profanity or racial slurs
- Be respectful, don't interrupt or be rude
- Speak clearly and loudly, and deliver well
- Have your arguments structured and organized
- Arguments should be relevant to the topic, have clear logic, and have relevant, reputable research
- Be engaged with the round by refuting/including opponent's arguments
- Use CX time wisely and effectively
Hi my name is Daniel Lee.
I have been a debater for 9 years, though its been a while since I've stopped after entering college. I debated for Honor Academy and Sunny Hills High School for most of my Junior High and high Highschool Career. Debated both public forum and Lincoln Douglas, but have significantly more experience in LD. Have debated in a lot of local Southern California tournaments (IVC, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach, Berkeley), State Qualifiers, and States. I have debated in circuit tournaments and non-circuit.
I consider myself a flow judge.
Types of arg: I am fine with most types of arguments as long as they aren't disrespectful. Wacky arguments are cool. Plus speaker points if you make me laugh.
Speed: I will try my best to keep up, but if you are spreading at the speed of light please send me doc in advance. If I can't understand it will not be put on the flow. Will stare at you through the camera if I can't understand.
Email: dlee30061207@gmail.com I would love to be added to the email chain.
CP: perfectly fine with this, but do explain the significance and respond to perms or non-unique arguments.
K: I have not ran a K, but have debated against K's. I am ok with you running K's. Please explain how it relates and its significance, or I can't vote on it.
T: Fine with T's.
Impact calc + Value: Sometimes just doing this can give you insta-win. Make sure to extend impacts and scenarios.
Be respectful to your opponent. There is a difference between being rude and aggressive.
Overall, I am experienced but not the greatest debater to set foot on the planet. Will do my best to judge your round.
I am a parent judge with limited experience, so please convince me why you win using ordinary terms. I do not understand debate jargons
Hi,
I am a lay judge but i was judging for the last 4 years and have experience with PF, LD and also speech events. I am not a huge fan of spreading and really appreciate respectful interaction among all teams.
Hi, nice to meet you!
In short, I've been debating for a while so I will understand most jargon and stuff. Therefore, feel free to run most types of arguments, don't be mean or use harmful rhetoric in round, do do impact calculus, make sound and logical arguments, and tell me what to look for and vote for. Off time road-maps are a good idea.
I'm sure all you are amazing, but I study public health and am deathly afraid of germs, so please don't shake my hand!
If you would like more information about me or about how I process debate, continue reading here:
General/Important Things on How I Judge:
-Call all Points of Order(POOs)in the last speeches. I will protect the flow as much as I can but calling them is best.
-Content warnings are generally appreciated because we do not know the background of all the people in the room.
-I'm ok with counter-plans (CPs), theory, and kritiks (Ks) and whatever arguments you can make against them
-I am not an expert on theory or kritiks, but generally, I can keep up. Make sure that you are thoroughly explaining your theory and your kritiks regardless because debate is educational at its core.
-Speed is ok, but let everyone in the room know if you are going to spread. If your opponent is talking too quickly, please call CLEAR (this means to say clear in an assertive tone and is a signal for the other team to slow down). If you are talking too quickly and not enunciating to the point that I cannot understand, I will stop flowing.
-Tag-teaming is ok, but be respectful. If you are puppeting your partner to the point of it being obnoxious and rude, I will drop your speaker points.
-Point of Informations(POIs): I think that it is polite to take at least one if not two.
Background on Me:
-I debated through college. I was not super-competitive in high school, but I have won tournaments and medals in NPDA, IPDA, and speech during my gap year (taking classes at a local CC).
Case Debate:
-I will try to be as much of a blank slate as possible (tabula rasa). Meaning that I will not intervene with any of my knowledge to the best of my ability. That being said, if you are saying lots of untrue things it might affect your speaks.
-Please have a clean debate. The messier the round becomes the more I have to go through and pick over information which increases the likelihood of some judge intervention.
-A few isolated quips will not win you the round. Make the debate clean and make it tell a story.
-Again debate is about creating a narrative, so collapse down and create the most compelling narrative you can make.
-Make your arguments logical and make sure they work together (ie. Advantages or Disads that contradict each other really grind my gears and happen more often than you would think)
Theory:
-It should make sense and be specific to the round.
-Throwaway theory is fine as long as you are specifically connecting it to what is happening in the round. (ie. don't run vagueness just to run vagueness, show me where the opponent is vague)
-Make your standards clear and explain it well. (Note: If you get a POI, I would suggest taking it.)
Kritiks: I think they are important to debate and I will listen to them, but because I am less familiar with them than some judges you might have, make sure you both thoroughly understand and can thoroughly explain your K.
-Do not make assumptions about others and do not run anything you already know is offensive and/or hurtful.
-People and emotions are more valuable than a win...and being offensive/causing emotional-damage probably won't get you a win.
-Like theory, make it specific to the round...please don't run something just to run it and not link it to the res.
-Please repeat the alt and take POIs. Ks can be hard and it is exclusionary not to make sure that your opponent understands what you are saying.
-Don't spread your opponents out of the round. If you are not clear or organized, it will be reflected in speaks or (depending on the severity) the way I vote.
-I will flow through what you tell me to and will vote on my flow. This means that you should emphasize arguments or links that you think are key to your Kritik.
Speaker Points: Generally, these are subjective...but I base them on a mix of strategy and style.
25: Please be more considerate with your words. You were offensive during round and I will not tolerate that because debate is about learning and it becomes very hard to learn if someone is not putting thought into their words (ie. please stop being racist, sexist, homophobic, etc).
26-26.9: Below average. Most likely there were strategic errors in round. Arguments were probably missing sections and did not have a ton of structure.
27-27.9: Average. General structure is down, but most likely the arguments were not flushed out and were loosely constructed with hard to follow logic.
28-28.5: Above Average. All the parts of debate are there and the manipulation of the arguments is there but unpolished. The basics are done well.
28.5-28.9: Superior. Very clear and very well done debate. However, most likely some strategic errors were made.
29-29.9: Excellent. Wow, you can debate really well. Good strategy and good analysis.
30: You were godly.
This paradigm was done really late, so it will be edited as I judge more.
Experienced Parli and PoFo debater. Seven years coaching and judging parli/pofo/LD at high school level. Flow judge.
Tabula Rasa judge, I will make a conscious effort not to bring preconceived notions about evidence/analysis into the round. Source credibility matters. Not a fan of spreading, please don't gish galIop your opponents and try to act like it's credible. I'll allow some spreading, especially in LD, but if I can't understand you that only counts against you. I dislike complicated theory arguments, I don't necessarily believe they are appropriate for the high school level 90% of the time, but I will judge them if I have to (but know that I will not like it). I appreciate clear voters in final speeches, tell me why I should vote for you.
PoFo:
I weigh style and argumentation equally. Arguments should be valid and presented clearly. Extend arguments across the flow. If you drop an argument and your opponent notes it, I will consider it dropped by you. I prefer analytics to evidence, but any good analysis has to be based off something. If you raise new arguments in crossfire, please reaffirm them in your speech. Make sure you adhere to your framework, if you set a value I want to see you support it.
LD:
I expect to see value/value criterion that your evidence/analysis can support. Framework debate is important but I will favor the case over it unless the framework is an absolute dealbreaker. While I think theoretical arguments are interesting, I would prefer that the debate remain in the realm of evidence/analysis as much as possible. Plans and counterplans are acceptable, but I'll be harsh if you run a kritik. If you're going to pull something like that at a high school level you better make it immaculate and understandable.
Parli:
I judge heavily on weighing mechanism in Parli rounds when applicable. I do not expect WM in fact-based rounds. I appreciate definitional creativity but I dislike debates that get bogged down at the top of the flow in theoretical worlds. I prefer analysis over evidence, but I understand that some variations of Parli require an emphasis on evidence. Do not spread, I do not believe it belongs in Parli. Try to maintain decorum during POIs, do not abuse the mechanic.
Policy:
I am not an experienced Policy judge. Analysis matters over evidence and I'll try my best.
*Varsity Speaks: Boost in speaker points when you compliment your partner in-speech - the more fun or earnest, the higher the speaks boost :) I've found this gives some much needed levity in tense rounds.
*Online: Please go slower online. I'll let you know if you cut out. I'll try on my end to be as fair as possible within the limits of keeping the round reasonably on time. If the tournament has a forfeit policy, I'll go by those.
Background: 3 years of college super trad policy (stock issues/T & CPs) & some parli. I coach PF, primarily middle school/novice and a few open. She/her. Docshare >
PF:
Firm on paraphrasing bad. I used to reward teams for the bare minimum of reading cut cards but then debaters would bold-faced lie and I would become the clown emoji in real time. I'm open to hearing arguments that penalize paraphrasing, whether it's treating them as analytics that I shouldn't prefer over your read cards or I should drop the team that paraphrases entirely.
Disclosure is good because evidence ethics in PF are bad, but I probably won't vote for disclosure theory. I'm more likely to reward you in speaks for doing it (ex. sharing speech docs) than punish a team for not.
“Defense is sticky.” No it isn’t.
Ex. Fully frontline whatever you want to go for in second summary in second rebuttal. Same logic as if it's in your final focus, it better be in your partner's summary. I like consistency.
If you take longer than a minute to exchange a card you just read, it starts coming out of your prep. Speech docs make sure this is never an issue, so that's another plug.
Collapsing, grouping, and implicating = good, underrated, easy path to my ballot! Doc botting, blippy responses, no warrants or ev comparison = I'm sad, and you'll be sad at your speaks.
Cleaner debates collapse earlier rather than later.
I'm super into strategic concessions. "It's okay that they win this, because we win here instead and that matters more bc..."
I have a soft spot for framing. I'm most interested when the opposing team links in (ex. team A runs "prioritize extinction," team B replies, "yes, and that's us,"), but I'll definitely listen to "prioritize x instead" args, too. Just warrant, compare, etc.
Other "progressive pf" - I have minimal experience judging it. I'm not saying you can't run these debates or I'm unwilling to listen to them, but I'm saying be aware and slow down if I'm the one evaluating. Update: So far this season, I've voted down trigger warning theory and voted for paraphrasing theory.
I'll accept new weighing in final focus but I don't think it's strategic - you should probably start in summary to increase my chances of voting off of it.
All else fails, I will 1) look at the weighing, then 2), evaluate the line-by-line to see if I give you reasonable access to those impacts to begin with. Your opponents would have to really slip up somewhere to win the weighing but lose the round, but it's not impossible. I get really sad if the line-by-line is so convoluted that I only vote on the weighing - give me a clean place to vote. I'll be happy if you do the extra work to tell me why your weighing mechanism is better than theirs (I should prefer scope over mag because x, etc).
LD:
I’m a better judge for you if you're more trad/LARP. The more "progressive," the more you should either A) strike me if possible, or B) explain it to me slowly and simply - I’m open to hearing it if you’re willing to adjust how you argue it. Send a speech doc and assume I'm not as well-read as you on the topic literature.
All:
If it's before 9am, assume I learned what debate was 10 minutes ago. If it's the last round of the night, assume the same.
Open/varsity - time yourselves. Keep each other honest, but don't be the prep police.
On speed generally - I can do "fast" PF mostly fine, but I prefer slower debates and no spreading.
Content warnings should be read for graphic content. Have an anonymous opt-out.
Have warrants. Compare warrants. Tell me why your args matter/what to do with them.
Don't post-round. Debaters should especially think about who you choose to post-round on a panel when decisions echo one another.
Having a sense of humor and being friendly/accommodating toward your opponents is the easiest way to get good speaks from me. Be kind, have fun, laugh a little (but not at anyone's expense!!), and I'll have no problem giving you top speaks.
If I smile, you did something right. If I nod, I'm following what you say. I will absolutely tilt my head and make a face if you lost me or you're treading on thin ice on believability of whatever you're saying. If I just look generally unhappy - that's just my default face. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hi o/
I'm currently an undergrad at UC Berkeley and an assistant Speech and Debate coach. I'm a former debater who mainly competed in Parliamentary debate for Claremont High School. Alongside that, I've competed in and/or judged LD, PF, Worlds, BQ, Congress, and several speech events (mainly Impromptu/Extemp). I always appreciate a competitive and respectful round so I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say!
General Debate Notes
Please focus on your links! I believe they are just as/more important than your cards/impacts. Arguments that depend on well-thought out logic are always more interesting to listen to than a random card without much analysis from the debater. I weigh magnitude and probability heavily, meaning I will not vote for your nuclear holocaust argument just because you tell me to based on a 0.0000000001% chance. Please provide a roadmap and signpost in each speech! I want to be able to flow your case/refutations as accurately as possible and it's difficult when you spew random facts at me for 7 minutes. Remember, you could have the most beautiful argument to ever be conceived of in human history, but if I don't know where/how to flow it I can't give you credit. Lastly, be respectful! Especially during POIs and cross. That also means avoid making faces or facepalming while your camera is on, I'll probably tank speaks if a debater is being disrespectful throughout the round.
Kritiks & Theory
I'm open to hearing these arguments as long as you can justify them. There are definitely rounds where these arguments are necessary and will impact my decision. I'm not the most familiar with K's so please explain each component to me! If there's one thing I hate more than spreading, it's frivolous theory/k's that you wrote at camp 5 months ago and decided to shoe into your case. Make sure the K actually makes sense for the specific round, not one that you already decided to run before the topic is even announced. (It's an exclusionary tactic against new debaters and makes me sad ). Don't feel pressured to run these arguments either, you don't need to use jargon or this structure to explain why a definition or argument is abusive!
Speaking
I'm pretty generous when it comes to speaks. If you make me laugh I'm probably going to boost your speaks too. Be respectful to your opponents, being rude is an easy way for me to dock your speaks without feeling very bad. Don't Spread, Don't Spread, Don't Spread.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask them in round! :)
glhf